Buying a home in England

To buy a home you must first find out how much you can afford. Many banks and building societies offer mortgage loans, but there will be other upfront costs such as a deposit and stamp duty. See the MoneyForce website for an estimated breakdown of buying and moving costs.

How do I buy a home while serving?

You can apply for an interest-free loan through the Forces Help to Buy scheme while you are still serving, which can help with the cost of a deposit. Visit the Government website to learn more about the Forces Help to Buy scheme.

What help can I get if I'm serving or a veteran?

Many affordable government housing schemes are available in England, and they offer different ways to help you buy a home by allowing you to part buy and part rent.

If you're serving or are within 24 months of leaving the Armed Forces, you have priority status for affordable housing schemes.

Where can I go for help?

If you want to know more about buying a home, visit Shelter. They can provide expert advice about the process and assist you with enquiries.

Other sources of help

Help for Heroes offers advice and support to veterans. For house purchasing advice and guidance, visit their website.

The Royal British Legion can offer advice about buying a home. See the MoneyForce website on buying in England.

Veterans' Gateway - Access to Housing Advice

The Veterans' Housing Advice service, initially provided by the Cobseo group of charities, and delivered by The Royal British Legion, Connect Assist and Shelter, has now been merged into Veterans' Gateway. The service is accessible 24/7 and supported by a resident housing specialist located at the Contact Centre.

The team aim to support veterans in finding, securing or maintaining accommodation by utilising the skills and resources of the Cobseo Housing Cluster, local authority contacts and other housing providers. Information can be accessed by telephone, email, live chat, social media, and on the website by visiting Veterans' Gateway/Self Help/Housing.